Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced additional ten per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) for the employees and pensioners from January 1 this year on the occasion of Independence Day today.
Singh also said that the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) announced by the Centre will be located at Dhaula Kuan in Sirmaur district.
He said that the release of another instalment of DA will put a burden of Rs 520 crore annually on the state exchequer. The chief minister was presiding over state-level Independence Day function at Nahan.
The Independence Day was celebrated at all the district headquarters across the state and also in the state capital here.
In spite of heavy rains, thousands of people joined the celebrations.
The chief minister said that the ‘Samman Rashi' (honorarium) for the freedom fighters has been increased from Rs 7,500 to Rs 10,000.
While the honorarium for wives and daughters of freedom fighters has been raised from Rs 3,500 to Rs 5,000.
The chief minister said that to ensure food for all, the government has launched ‘Rajeev Gandhi Ann Yojana' under which 37 lakh people of the state were being provided ration at subsidised rates and the government was spending Rs 220 crore on ‘Food Subsidy Scheme'.
Besides, the government was providing Rs 75 thousand as one time incentive to those students of the state who are selected and admitted in degree courses in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and in post graduate/diploma courses in Indian Institute of Management (IIM).
The Chief Minister said the state has made tremendous progress in all the fields and reiterated his government's resolve to ensure speedy and uniform development of the entire state.
